Power Mobility and Safety Concerns
Power mobility can enhance participation in daily activities as well as recreational pursuits for individuals in long term care. However, the devices can also cause safety issues that need to be addressed.
Instead of excluding residents who have certain diagnoses from power mobility option that could be considered risk management prejudicial, most participants chose to take an approach based on teleology and let all residents test a device.
Mobility
A power mobility device is a way for people who are unable to move about their home or community and also to take part in everyday activities that they would not be able to do. However, these devices may also be a danger to the person using them, as well as other individuals who share their environment or space. Occupational therapists must carefully evaluate the safety needs of each client to make the best recommendations for powered mobility.
In an exploratory study (von Zweck, 1999), OTs from three residential care facilities within the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority conducted qualitative interviews with residents about their use of power mobility. The goal was to create an environment that allowed for a client-centered power movement prescription. The findings revealed four main themes: (1) the meaning of power mobility, (2) learning the rules of the road, (3) red flags: concerns about safety and (4) solutions.
Power mobility can boost the quality of life for individuals with mobility limitations. This is due to the fact that it allows them to participate in daily activities at home and within the community. Self-care, active and recreational jobs are essential for the physical and mental health of older adults. For many who suffer from advanced illnesses, power mobility can be a means to participate in these vital activities.
It was considered unacceptable by the participants to remove a resident's wheelchair because it would alter their life's narrative and direction and hinder them from performing the same things that they were doing before their condition progressed. This was particularly applicable to those in the Facility 1 who had only been able use their power chairs for a brief period and now relied on others to push them.
Another solution would be to reduce the speed that some residents drive their chairs. However this could cause various issues like privacy and the impact on the rest of the community. The most drastic solution to security concerns was to take away the wheelchair from a resident's.
Safety
Power mobility lets people move more freely. They are also able to participate in a wider range of activities, as well as run around on their own. However, with increased mobility comes a higher risk of accidents. For some, these accidents could result in serious injuries to themselves or others. It is essential to think about the safety of your clients before suggesting power mobility.
First consider determining whether your client is able to safely use their scooter or power chair. This could include a physical assessment by a doctor or occupational therapist or a mobility specialist, based on the nature of your client's disability and their current health. In certain situations the use of a vehicle lift may be necessary to allow for your client to unload and load their mobility device at home, in the community or at work.
Learning the rules of road safety is another aspect of safety. This includes sharing space with other wheelchair users, pedestrians and bus drivers. Most participants in the study have mentioned this issue.
Some people learned to drive their wheelchairs on sidewalks instead of driving through the midst of crowds or on curbs (unless the wheelchair was specifically made for this). For others, it meant driving more slow in a crowded area and keeping an eye out for pedestrians.
The most popular and least desired option that was to take away the wheelchair of a person was seen as a double whammy as it would mean losing mobility and preventing the person from participating in activities with the community or at facilities. This was the opinion of the majority of those who were able to remove their chairs among them Diane and Harriet.
Other suggestions made by participants included educating other residents, family members and staff on the proper operation of power mobility. This could include educating residents on the fundamentals of driving (such as using the right side of the hallway) as well as encouraging residents to practice driving techniques while out, and helping them to understand how their behavior affects the mobility of others.
Follow-Up
A child's ability and willingness to take part in the world can be profoundly affected by a device that can power them. However, very there isn't much research about the experience of children learning to use this equipment. This study employs a post-previous design to examine the effects of six months of use with one of the four early mobility devices on a school-aged group of children suffering from severe cerebral Palsy (CP).
green mobility scooter conducted interviews in qualitative format with 15 parents and also occupational and physical therapists who work with children. Thematic analysis revealed three main themes. The first, 'Power in Mobility,' described how the use of powered devices affected more than just a child's motor skills. The experience of learning to drive a motorized mobility device can be an emotional and transformative one.
The second theme 'There's no cookbook' revealed that learning how to utilize an equipment for mobility was a process that unfolded in a way that was cyclical over time. Therapists were charged with determining what was appropriate for each child's needs and abilities. Through the training and post-training phases, therapists were required to have patience with parents and children. Several parents and therapists described a need to help families celebrate their successes and work through problems that arise from the process of training.
The third theme called 'Shared space The study explored how the use of an electric device can influence other people's lives and interactions. The majority of the participants in this study believed that it is important to be mindful when using a power mobility device. This is especially important when driving in public spaces. Participants also said that they've witnessed situations where someone else's property had been damaged by the use a power mobility device or a person had been injured by a driver who did not yield the right of way.
The results of this study suggest that socialization and power mobility training for preschoolers with CP can be conducted in specific classroom settings. Future research should be focused on the effects of training and results of this type of intervention for children with CP. This will hopefully lead to the development of more standard training protocols specifically for this group of children.